It was very late in the night, and I had just dropped my phone to sleep. I've been up for the best hours of that night responding to messages and attending to a few things.
I guess I had forgotten to put off my data before dropping my phone; it was a notification that jolted me back as I was almost entering dreamland. Not only that, but I never knew the day still has something more for me.
.
And believe me, I almost didn't pick up the phone to check what the message was. But then it buzzed the second time; I picked it up and checked the screen to see what the message was. All I saw was, "I'm so sorry to bother you; I know you're busy or probably retiring for the night."
The first message didn't show because another has entered, and that's the message. I felt somehow, or maybe it was curiosity that took the best part of me. I wanted to know what the first message included. But then again, I'm so tired, and all my body systems were already screaming, "rest."
I thought about opening the message and responding or waiting till the following morning and replying. But what if it's urgent? I rolled over in the bed, trying to figure out what it was. I was bothered more because the number was unsaved, meaning it's someone I don't have on my contacts.
"I will reply tomorrow." I said to myself and dropped the phone.
As I closed my eyes to sleep, various thoughts kept coming in. Later can be dangerous; later can be too late. "But the message doesn't look urgent," I said to myself again. Eventually I don't know what won, maybe it was guilt or curiosity, but I picked up my phone, unlocked it, and opened the actual message. And I began to read through.
"Good evening, sir, I need a little help from you, please; even if it's advice or a referral, I will appreciate it, sir."
That was the message I missed earlier, then I continued with the one I saw.
"I'm so sorry to bother you; I know you're busy or probably retiring for the night."
I didn't know what to say. What kind of help do I know this person needs by this time?
"Good evening, sir/ma," I replied. "Hope you're fine? How may I be of help?"
It was as if the person knew I would reply and was eagerly waiting. Immediately I dropped the message; I could see the trace that he was typing too. I just looked, holding my breath; I didn't know what to expect. As I was about to switch to another chat, his message dropped.
"Thank you so much for responding, sir; believe me, I didn't think you would."
That message makes me feel somehow. "I don't get." I wanted to respond with that, but I cautioned myself and waited for his next message.
"I'm in a situation presently, sir; I missed an opportunity for something; it's a long story. I'm stranded as it is; I don't know if you have anyone in Ibadan I can stay with for the night or probably some amount to get a guest house to rest my head for the night."
The message does look somehow, but believe me, it's so heavy that its weight bends me. I've been in such a situation before where I was stranded and had to trek a very long distance in the middle of the night before finding a small hotel that could take the only amount I had with me. I guess that makes it hit so hard; I've been there before.
Likewise, I have few people around the place he said he was, but it's also risky. This is someone I don't know; how would I give him the address of someone? So, I replied to him....
"I guess we would talk more about how you find yourself in that situation later; the most important thing now is for you to get a safe space."
"It's alright, sir." He responded.
"So, what's your name, and can you tell me how you came about my contact."
"I'm Segun; it's been a while since I've had your contact. I've always viewed your status on WhatsApp and see the various inspiring and wonderful things you post, even on Facebook too. I never thought a day would come when I would be in your DM. Just wanted to be a ghost follower. But then, I scrolled through all my contacts and couldn't find a single person to ask for help." He said.
I almost smiled, because to me he sounded so funny for a person in a dire situation. His last words got me, though; it's something I can very well relate to as well; there are times I need help too, would look through my contacts but wouldn't find a single person to message to come to my rescue.
"I would appreciate anything at all, sir." He added and then sent a recorded video showing him under a streetlight with a school bag on his back. He looked exhausted, I must admit.
"Ok, I will send you something; it's little, but I'm sure you would get a hotel with it. Make sure you're safe." I replied. "The country is not smiling."
"I'm sorry to be a burden, sir." He replied.
"Ohh, not at all. You're not." I responded. "Send your bank details."
As if he copied and pasted it, his account details dropped, and I sent the little I had.
"I've sent it." I said.
"Thanks a lot, sir. I don't even know how to start thanking and praying for you, sir." He replied.
"It's alright, it's nothing, sir." I responded.
"No sir, it is everything. I was already planning on sleeping in front of a shop. I just texted you so you could maybe keep me calm or something. Not only that, but I'm just tired of everything; I don't know what else to do. Furthermore, I know you won't send any address to an unknown person, but I wasn't expecting you to actually help me this way."
I read it, trying to figure him out; it's obvious he has a lot going on with him. He has piled it all up, and it has taken him over; the only hope he has was the opportunity he traveled for, but he missed it.
"It's good that you reached out, sir." I said.
Then I saw he was already recording a voice note. He sent it, but I actually took my time to play it. I don't know why, maybe because I don't know what to expect or maybe because I don't know how he will sound.
So, I closed my eyes and clicked on the play button. What I heard made me feel somehow, an adult being so sad, crying and all. He was just being thankful all through.
"It's alright, sir; please get a place first; it's getting late." I managed to respond.
"Thank you." He said.
And that was how we ended the conversation that night. After about 30 minutes, he sent me a short video as he has been able to get a room to lay his head. I just reacted with a live emoji and dropped my phone.
It was already past midnight; I looked around my room and sighed. I thought about how close it was for that message to be ignored and how easily help can depend solely on just a minute of one's time.
Believe me, I didn't feel proud, but I was glad I was present. And that night, I slept peacefully, with my data on.
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